What to do if you fall suddenly ill
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1. Seek medical attention
Get medical help from a doctor or hospital.
If it's an emergency situation, contact the local emergency services first, then contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team as soon as you can.
Once you’re able to contact our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team, please be ready with the following:
- Your policy number
- A contact number for where you are now
- The nature of your problem
- Your location
Please be aware that depending on where you’re travelling to, there may be Reciprocal Health Care Agreements in place (the Emergency Assistance team will let you know). The terms of your policy require that you use the public health system where possible, particularly when travelling in a country with reciprocal health agreements.
2. Get it in writing
All claims need supporting documentation and medical claims are no different. So while it may be the last thing on your mind, get copies of documents that will support your claim before you leave the medical facility such as:
- Doctor or other medical practitioner’s report confirming your illness.
- Hospital Admission report, if you’re admitted to hospital.
- Ambulance and Medical evacuation reports if relevant.
In some cases, we may need to obtain your past medical history from your usual doctor back in the UK but we’ll let you know if this is the case.
3. Keep your receipts
You’ll need to keep all your receipts, along with your itineraries and booking and cancellation confirmations for any affected travel arrangements for when you claim. If you don’t do this, we may reduce or reject your claim.
Cover for British nomads if COVID-19 derails your overseas trip
If you, a relative or someone in your travelling party falls ill due to Coronavirus you may be covered for a number of insured events under our Medical and Coronavirus Travel Costs benefit sections.
Cover does vary between our Standard and Explorer plans. If you are diagnosed with Coronavirus while overseas your benefits include:
- 24/7 access to our Emergency Assistance team, who can help you access local medical care.
- Medical costs including hospitalisation.
- Evacuation or repatriation back to the UK if deemed necessary by us and in consultation with your attending physician.
Benefit limits apply and vary between the plans.
Our COVID-19 cover benefits have been created to give British travellers options to travel knowing that they have overseas emergency medical insurance benefits on our Standard and Explorer plans.
If you have purchased the Explorer Plan, cover is available for some Insured events, including but not limited to:
- Quarantine costs: If you or a member of your travelling party go into compulsory quarantine as a result of your or their diagnosis of or confirmed close contact with a case of Coronavirus, we’ll pay for your reasonable additional travel, meals and accommodation, including in-room entertainment. (On trip)
- Childcare while in Quarantine: If you’re unable to take care of your children due to your Coronavirus diagnosis, we may pay your reasonable additional childcare costs for a registered or qualified childcare worker to take care of your dependent children who would otherwise have been in your full-time care. (On trip)
- Pet care: If you are diagnosed with Coronavirus, we’ll pay your reasonable additional pet care services, including kennel and cattery boarding fees or professional pet sitting services, in the UK. (On trip)
Please note: COVID-19 cover depends on your Country of Residence and varies between plans.
To find out what cover applies to you, read our Coronavirus cover article, which has all of the details, including benefit limits, conditions and exclusions.
4. Check your local government and international health guidelines on vaccinations
It's a requirement to stay up to date with all required vaccinations for the destination(s) you're heading to and that may include the Coronavirus vaccine among others.
Observe the UK Foreign & Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and government health guidelines and World Health Organization (WHO) precautionary measures, including any relevant vaccinations, hygiene or social distancing guidelines. For more about COVID-19 and vaccination tips please click here.
5. Need to know more?
This information may help when things go wrong and you want to make a claim. All travel insurance plans are different, and cover will vary, depending on what's happened, your country of residence, the plan you choose and any options or upgrades you buy. Your policy will always have the full details of what you’re covered for.
If you have any further questions about what's covered and not covered, just ask us.
How does my travel Insurance policy help me in an emergency?
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Cancellation
Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.
- Explorer Plan: £5,000
- Standard Plan: £3,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalised?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Close relative suddenly dies?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Abroad Medical Expenses
Take the pain out of medical costs while traveling abroad.
- Explorer Plan: £10 million
- Standard Plan: £5 million
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Transport
Expenses included in Emergency Medical limits.
Evacuation and Repatriation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medivac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Cover your lost, stolen or damaged gear and tech.
- Explorer Plan: £2,000
- Standard Plan: £1,000
Protect your gear
- Passport or tech stolen?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Bags delayed?
Help starts here.
- Emergency Medical Expenses
- Baggage & Personal Belongings
- Cancellation
- Trip Curtailment
- Personal Accident
- Loss of Passport or travel documents
- Personal Liability
- Legal Expenses
You can still purchase a World Nomads policy if you have a Pre-Existing Medical Condition (PEMC) – whether it is serious or not – but we won’t cover any claim/s made by any traveller under the policy as a result of this condition (this includes if you’re on separate or joint policies). This exclusion can’t be removed from the policy.
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has a travel insurance directory on its Money Advice Service website, or you can contact the service on 0800 138 7777. This service provides details on what may be considered a PEMC, and travel insurance providers that may cover serious PEMCs, which may assist travellers wanting cover for these conditions.
24/7 emergency assistance
If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
For policies purchased on or after 1 September 2021:
+44 (0) 2030931750 (Call via an operator reverse charges. Not toll free.)
For policies purchased before 1 September 2021:
Phone: +353 21 237 8005 (Call via an operator reverse charges. Not toll free.)
Phone: +61 2 8263 0470 (Call via an operator reverse charges. Not toll free.)
Wherever you are, whatever has happened, our multi-lingual assistance teams are here to help you and your family.
Emergency Assistance, World Nomads
Travel insurance. Simple & flexible.
Travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families. Nobody wants to think about all the things that could go wrong on their trip, but these things can and do happen. So be prepared and get your travel insurance today.